DISCLAIMER: I know nothing real about any of this, I’m just a fan and can’t wait to see what’s next.
These are my outstanding questions on the iSlate:
- What problem is this device solving? This is the fundamental issue I have with the tablet computer: it’s a solution for a problem I’m not yet aware of.
- How do you hold it? - I am most curious about how this gets solved. Is it like an iPhone? 10” is too big to hold and use with one hand. To hold it with one hand on the side seems awkward. To hold it as a painters palate is too unstable.
- Where do you use it? - Real portability? Is this an everywhere device, like the iPhone or is this like a laptop, which can be used while walking around, it’s just not recommended.
- How do you carry it? - In a bag? A pocket? Does it come with a special sleeve like the 5G Video iPods did?
And this is what I’m looking forward to seeing on January 26th:
- Steve Jobs dramatic introduction - like the MacBook Air hiding in the envelope, I’m looking for a nice visceral reveal from Steve Jobs. And maybe a joke about how skinny he and the device are (though I’d much rather see Jobs with some more meat on the bones).
- iPhone OS - I don’t think it will primarily run the iPhone OS, but I do think it will be capable of supporting the iPhone apps.
- OS X Touch - We will see an innovative UI that is a NEW OS interface, and this will be the real jewel. Anyone can make and assemble hardware, but the most copied features on the Mac are ways to get from point A to point B. I don’t know what it’ll be called, but Steve loves touting OSX whenever he can.*
- Business Model - Steve has previously described Apple as a three-legged stool: Mac, iPod, iPhone. Look right at the top of the Apple.com page - the three are listed in that order. But where does the iSlate fit in the picture? All products in the Mac line-up have the word “Mac” in them - MacBook, iMac, Mac Mini, Mac Pro, etc - same with iPod, and same with iPhone. The only orphan is the Apple TV, which is still a “hobby”. So, if the moniker “iSlate” is the real deal - where will it fall?
- iMac bezel-less design cue - I love this look and I know Jonny Ive does too, I’d be surprised if it were omitted.
- iSight built-in - I’ll be excited to see this, because it’ll be the first iteration of a real, usable videophone. No one has really adapted iChat as a communication tool. This also brings us one step closer to being The Jetsons, rocket-cars, pill-based-food and houses in the clouds.
Awesomeness I don’t expect, but would love to see:
- Cloud-based streaming media - I think it’s time that Apple start firing up those servers in North Carolina. For iWork Cloud, iTunes subscription TV service, or LaLa.com?
- Tactile Feedback - Not the worthless buzzing haptic feedback.
1999 brought OSX, 2001 was iPod, 2005 was Intel, 2007 was the iPhone. It’s been 3 years since we were shown the first glimpses of the iPhone, and people have finally wrapped their heads around it so obviously it’s time for a new revolution in computing.
*Lest ye forget, it was the NeXt acquisition that gave birth to OSX and brought Steve back to Apple.
